Baroness Scotland of Asthal: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Andy Burnham) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	I have approved a package of financial support for the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners (the council)
	The Home Office recognises the importance of quality in forensic science and has therefore supported the council since its creation. The council has now been in operation for five years and it was therefore agreed that a business review should be undertaken. This review, led by the council, supported by KPMG and officials from the Home Office, produced robust business plans for the next five years.
	On the basis of those plans proposals were submitted as to the level of financial support required by the council. I have accepted those proposals and agreed (subject to review and performance) a programme of funding as follows.
	
		
			 Year Allocation 
			 2005–06 £430,000 
			 2006–07 £441,000 
			 2007–08 £403,000 
			 2008–09 £158,000 
			 2009–10 £130,000 
		
	
	I have placed a paper in the Library which provides more detail about the council and the funding agreed.